Nickelodeon Latin America Begins Production Of The Network's New Original Novela: "11 11 - En Mi Cuadra Nada Cuadra"

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- LA SCREENINGS -- Nickelodeon Latin America announced today the development of 11 11, En Mi Cuadra Nada Cuadra (75 x 60 mins), the network's fourth original novela and the second 100% produced by Nickelodeon Latin America. The network also announced that Somos Productions will produce the novela and Somos Distribution will be in charge of the international distribution. The announcement was made today at LA Screenings by Tatiana Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Programming and Creative Strategy for Nickelodeon Latin America and Mary Black, Executive Producer for Somos Productions.

"We are thrilled to unveil '11 11', our latest original novela and to present the main cast for the first time at the LA Screenings. On the heels of our success with GRACHI, we are excited to take our production expertise to the next level and are certain that Nickelodeon and Somos' combined expertise will deliver a top-notch production that will resonate with kids in the region and abroad," said Rodriguez. "11 11's compelling plot and lovable cast will surely become another multiplatform success for Nickelodeon Latin America."

Luis Villanueva, President and CEO of SOMOS Productions, expressed his satisfaction with this deal: "We at SOMOS Productions are extremely happy and proud with 11 11 and our partnership with Nickelodeon. It is a pleasure to work with a company that knows its market so well and have created a prestigious worldwide brand. Our team is excited and it is great to participate in a genre that we so fully dominate. We have a great story, casting and the experience to deliver a top quality novela that gives continuity to Nickelodeon's success in the region."

11 11, En Mi Cuadra Nada Cuadra is an original idea from renown Peruvian film director / producer Luis Llosa and Pablo Vazquez and follows Kike, a 14 year old boy with a passion for cutting-edge technology. This passion becomes especially important when he and his family move into Building 11 11, a mysterious structure. Thanks to the building's unique qualities, whenever Kike falls asleep he has the ability to come to life as Enrique, a 20 year old version of himself that interacts with the real world like any other person. With Enrique's help, Kike sets out on a double mission: to find his missing mother and to win the heart of beautiful Sandra, an aspiring young actress and singer who lives in the same building.

The novela's ensemble cast includes Patricio Gallardo as Kike, Alberich Bormann as Enrique and Thali Garcia as Sandra, amongst others.

11 11, en Mi Cuadra Nada Cuadra will be shot on-set and on location in Miami and will be produced in Spanish and customized to Portuguese for Nickelodeon Brazil. The network has commissioned 75, 1-hour episodes in high definition and anticipates a pan-regional premiere in Fall 2012.

The novela will be distributed by Somos Distribution, one of the leading distributors of Hispanic media and programming. The distribution deal gives Somos exclusive worldwide rights to Nickelodeon Latin America's novela.

Viacom International Media Networks The Americas, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the company's portfolio of entertainment brands, which include MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon and their respective properties in Spanish speaking Latin America as well as Viacom Networks Brazil. Additionally, the portfolio includes Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas in the US, which targets a broad US Hispanic audience, and MTV Networks International's programming partnerships in Canada with Corus Entertainment for Nickelodeon and CTV Globe Media for MTV, Comedy Central and Vh1. The company's emerging multiplatform businesses include MTVNHD and Red Viacom in Latin America as well as VH1HD in Brazil. MTV Networks Latin America, US Hispanic and Canada also serve the growing number of digitally connected consumers via its websites: mtvla.com, mundonick.com, comedycentral.la, comedycentral.com.br, vh1la.com, vh1brasil.com.br, tr3s.com, mtv.ca and nickcanada.com as well as through its broadband and community sites: mtvrevolution.com, mundonick.com/nickturbo, , mtvmusica.com, neopets.com and mtvdemo.com.

SOURCE: Nickelodeon Latin America

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/16/4494715/nickelodeon-latin-america-begins.html#storylink=cpy

Discovery U.S. Hispanic Upfront Satisfies Curiosity with New Blockbuster Series, Original Programming and Returning Favorites

New York, NY, May 15, 2012 - Today, Discovery U.S. Hispanic, the home of Discovery en Español and Discovery Familia, unveiled its 2012-2013 Upfront slate. True to this year’s theme of “Discover How Far Curiosity Can Take You,” the networks’ programming represents what viewers will experience as they turn on their televisions and discover the breathtaking visual feast they will encounter, including unparalleled access to extraordinary characters and places.

“Prepare yourself to be astounded by what our networks have to offer in the upcoming year,” said Ivan Bargueiras, General Manager of Discovery U.S. Hispanic. “Our exceptional and diverse line-up satisfies the curiosity of our viewers like never before. This year’s Upfront is about how Discovery U.S. Hispanic opens horizons, delivering amazingly unique content, carefully curated and produced for our Spanish-speaking viewers”.

The Upfront presentation also addressed how both U.S. Hispanic networks provide brands which offer exclusive advertising opportunities via a mixture of strong ratings, powerful content, extraordinary environments and the synergies that are available across Discovery’s full portfolio of networks. The afternoon presentation includes a special message by Discovery’s founder John Hendricks, which speaks directly to the success of the U.S. Hispanic enterprise.

“We’re so proud of Discovery U.S. Hispanic and what it has become. Both networks represent the very best of Discovery and we welcome the continued growth and development of a service that addresses the needs of a growing Hispanic population in the United States,” said John Hendricks, Founder and Chairman, Discovery Communications. “That’s been the magic of our company, listening to our audience and then representing their diverse interests in how we program our channels.”

With a string of strong yearly performances and its highest Q1 on record, Discovery en Español heads-up the 2012-2013 season with a slate of epic series and originals such as NORTEAMÉRICA (NORTH AMERICA), the ultimate inside look at the natural wonders of our continent; VOLANDO POR EL MUNDO (EARTHFLIGHT), an unprecedented series that uses Google Earth to deliver views of our landscape through the eyes of birds; and BATALLA DE INGENIOS, Discovery en Español’s first ever reality game show. Also, 2111 returns for a second season with more exceptional forays into Latin America’s cities in the year 2111.

Coming off a record-breaking year of double digit growth, Discovery Familia is also introducing a number of exciting programs and series including: Sexy y Saludable (EAT YOURSELF SEXY), which follows women through their transformation from saggy and stressed-out, to sexy and stunning; and a new Spanish version of 10 Years Younger called 10 años Menos, specially created for the Hispanic viewing audience.

2012-2013 Programming

Discovery en Español

NORTEAMÉRICA (NORTH AMERICA)
Credited as the “…most ambitious documentary to date on the North American continent,” “North America,” which began filming in 2009, takes an all-encompassing view of the continent. Creating a visual spectacle that highlights the very best of the natural world, it captures the wonders of North America as never before. Utilizing the very latest ultra slow motion, time-lapse, and macro photography, this groundbreaking, high-definition series will be a true revelation of the magnificent continent we inhabit.

VOLANDO POR EL MUNDO (EARTH FLIGHT)
With birds as our guide on an epic journey, “Earthflight” explores the greatest wildlife spectacles and astonishing physical wonders of our continents. The series allows us to view the world as it has never been seen from the vantage point of migrating birds. They use the landscape features below to navigate, find places to feed, roost and even aid their flight. They also witness and interact with some of the world's greatest animal spectacles. Unlike a satellite image, their view is moving and three-dimensional. Earthflight shows us our world from a totally new perspective.

2111: Season 2 (U.S. Hispanic Production / returning)
This mega production, hosted by Mexican journalist Idzi Sánchez is a follow up to the series that gave us insight into what the future might hold for Latin America in the year 2111. Delving into new topics that showcase the world our grandchildren will live in, it combines state of the art 3D and CGI technologies with testimony from futurologists to predict a vision of what life will be like 100 years from now. It will delve deeper into the human condition – getting to the heart of the matter on how advances in medicine, transportation, communication and technology will impact every aspect of our world.

Batalla de Ingenios (U.S. Hispanic Production)
Set in an urban setting, the network’s first-ever original game show is a fast-paced, engineering competition series that will put 12 highly skilled individuals in an 8-stage elimination challenge to compete for the ultimate prize…TIME. The winner will get a full year off to do as they please. It's a mind-challenging, action-fueled adventure where only one winner will be left standing. To win, these brilliant minds will have to make it through 8 difficult challenges - all inspired by the Discovery programming genres (Science, Nature, Survival, Real Life experiences) - testing their knowledge, creativity, mental skills, technological abilities and their physical endurance.

Hard Kicks (U.S. Hispanic Production)
“Hard Kicks” is an hour-long series that takes viewers deep into the world of soccer. It’s the story of a professional soccer club fighting for championships in towns where winning is the only currency. This series takes the audience behind the scenes of PUMAS, one of the professional leagues leading soccer teams as it conducts pre-season training and tryouts, looks for new rising stars and lays high hopes on the shoulders of its returning ones. The cameras also get up close and personal with fans who devote themselves to the point where at times there seems to be more at stake for them, than the players.

Rinocerontes: Cacería Ilegal (Rhino Wars)
In spite of heroic efforts by South African anti-poaching units, rhino poachers are still running rampant and the carnage is escalating. In 2011, almost 400 rhinos were killed. Sickened by the slaughter, and frustrated by their inability to stop it, a group of private game reserves is now taking direct action. They are banding together to try to take down the ruthless poachers, by enlisting in former U.S. Special Forces operatives.

Pescadores Extremos (Top Hooker)
“Top Hooker” is the in your face, full throttle competition series that splits 10 fishermen into 2 teams and pits them head-to head in a series of insane never-before-seen fishing challenges.

Hasta que la Mafia Nos Separe (I Married a Mobster)
Meet the women who live the fast-paced lifestyle of organized crime. Each woman shares the wild ride from how her relationship blossomed to the realities of living the high life and her family's eventual downfall as authorities lock up her loved ones. Narrated and executive produced by Lorraine Bracco, who starred in both Goodfellas and The Sopranos, this new docu-series offers unprecedented access into this secretive world, where breaking your vows could literally get you killed.

Vivir para Contarlo (U.S. Hispanic Production)
They are ordinary people, until they must fight to survive. Caught in perilous situations by accidents, disasters and natural catastrophes, they need to search themselves for the strength to overcome extreme conditions, in experiences that will change their lives forever. "Vivir para Contarlo” gives these people the chance to reveal their tales of unexpected courage, surprising ingenuity, and touching solidarity in the face of death.

Amor Asesino (Scorned: Love Kills )
This series will explore sordid stories of betrayal, deception, and sexual intrigue that comprise a particularly salacious subset of murders: crimes of passion. This hour-long series will give viewers a voyeuristic peek into the lust and animalistic obsession that have fueled some of the more brutal acts of violence to grab front-page headlines across the globe.

Fiebre del Oro (Gold Rush (returning))
In the face of the economic meltdown, determined men risk everything to strike it rich mining for gold in the wilds of the far north. Todd and Jack Hoffman, the Schnabel family and the Dakota Boys are all in search of the American dream and a new frontier.

Monstruos de Río (River Monsters: Season 4 and 5 (returning))
Extreme angler Jeremy Wade uncovers the world's largest, strangest and most dangerous fish in “River Monsters.” Wade's journey begins in a familiar territory — America's backyards. In his first investigation of season four, he takes viewers to Florida, Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma in search of all-American man-eaters.

Discovery Familia

Discovery Kids Programming Block (6:00 AM until 9:00 PM)

Peztronauta (Fishtronaut: Season 2 (returning))
Everyone knows that a fish can swim...but have you ever heard of a fish who is also a secret agent? Meet Fishtronaut, a fish on a mission to save the environment. He’s a fish out of water in his flying suit of armor and together with his friends Marina and Zeke, he protects the animals of EcoZoo Park. It’s a fish! It’s a bird! It’s Fishtronaut!

Mi Amigazazo (My Big Big Friend: Season 2 (returning))
A cool series of fun, frolic and big big adventures that begins with a little boy with a big imagination. Yuri is 6, an only child, with an energetic and curious attitude towards life. In the world of his imagination he is brave and adventurous, but in real life he is truly shy and lonely. At least he was until the day he had an idea. A great big, big idea. Golias! Golias is Yuri's imaginary friend - only don't tell Golias - he doesn't know he's imaginary! Nor do Bongo or Vanessa. With the help of their big big friends, Yuri and his chums, Lili and Matt, discover that if you imagine you can, sometimes you really really can!

Discovery Familia Primetime (9:00 PM ET until 12:00 AM)

10 años Menos (10 Years Younger (U.S. Hispanic Production))
“10 Years Younger” is a custom made original makeover program transforming the lives of women who are either style-challenged or have simply let themselves go due to the constant juggling of work and family demands.

Sexy y Saludable (Eat Yourself Sexy (returning))
International nutrition sensation, Gillian McKeith, knows you can eat yourself sexy in just eight weeks and she’s about to transform the lives of thirteen women to prove it. With her trademark humor, no-nonsense approach, and a healthy dose of tough love, Gillian introduces her protégés to a customized exercise regimen, and an all-new diet of fresh and wholesome natural foods that are great for the waistline and for the family budget, too. And, as breaking a lifetime of bad habits can be tough and since it takes two to fire up the passion in the bedroom, Gillian makes sure their partners are on board from the start.

Enigmas Médicos (Mystery Diagnosis)
Every year, millions of Americans fall prey to real-life medical mysteries, ailments that go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. Their lives and emotions are thrown into turmoil as medical professionals struggle to understand their baffling conditions.

El Localizador (The Locator)
From finding birth parents to organ donors, Troy Dunn's investigative skills are a marvel. His impressive track record for locating people means that he and his staff are routinely inundated with dozens of new cases to solve on a weekly basis. The Locator takes viewers on real-life journeys of hope, fear and joy as he reunites people who are searching for answers to their most pressing life questions.

About Discovery U.S. Hispanic
Discovery U.S. Hispanic includes the Discovery en Español and Discovery Familia networks. Discovery en Español, providing Hispanic audiences with the best content from the portfolio of top networks from Discovery Communications, launched in 1998 as one of the first US Hispanic pay TV networks in response to the growing demand for Spanish-language programming in the United States. Today, Discovery en Español is the 2nd highest rated Hispanic pay –TV channel in prime time, distributed on 100 % of US. Hispanic digital tiers nationwide. Discovery Familia is the first U.S. network developed to attract the coveted audience of highly-engaged Hispanic moms and their preschool age children.

SOURCE: Discovery U.S. Hispanic

Hispanic Television Upfront this week

Azteca America
May 14, 2012 at 7PM
The top of the Standard, NYC

Univision Communications
May 15, 2012 at 11AM
New Amsterdam Theatre

Discovery U.S. Hispanic
May 15, 2012 at 3PM
The Times Center

Telemundo
May 15, 2012 at 6PM
Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Estrella TV
May 16, 2012 at 9:30AM
Gotham Hall

Mundo Fox
May 16, 2012 at 11AM
Ziegfeld Theatre

Vme TV
May 16, 2012 at 3PM
Institute Cervantes


ESPN
May 16, 2012 at 5:30PM
The Empire Hotel


Tr3s
May 16, 2012 at 6:000PM
Highline Ballroom

Upfronts 2012: Telemundo Doubles Down on Original Programming

NEW YORK -- Telemundo is doubling down on original content and launching a top-to-bottom rebrand with new logo and tagline, the network said Monday during its upfront breakfast at MoMA's The Modern.

The network is keeping the tagline under wraps until the fall, though it unveiled its brand statement Monday: "Brave New Telemundo".

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Starcom USA and Tapestry Write First "Forefront" Total Market Deal Shifting Some Traditional English-Language Media Investments to Univision Communications

CHICAGO & NEW YORK, May 11, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Media agency Starcom USA and its multicultural agency Tapestry have finalized its first 2012-2013 Upfront deal with Univision Communications, a first of its kind in the broadcast industry.

This is the largest single-agency Upfront deal ever conducted by Univision, the leading media company serving Hispanic America, and will be the first to utilize a video neutral approach, incorporating all of Univision's properties including two network broadcast networks, three rated cable channels, local TV and radio stations, and Univision's online, mobile and social video destinations.

This deal reinforces Univision's position in the same consideration set as the English-language networks, and shows that media agencies like Starcom and Tapestry are willing to open up the marketplace to allow flexibility across languages. For Starcom and Tapestry, it is a way to show that the agencies are following population and consumption trends to provide competitive advantages to their roster of major marketers, including Burger King, Mars/Wrigley and Kellogg. This is also a part of the agencies' larger Forefront strategy that aims to evolve the Upfront process into a marketplace that embodies the Forefront of human experience.

"The Upfront marketplace has the tendency to value tradition and legacy over innovation and evolution; we would rather it represent the Forefront of new thinking and approaches to reaching consumers in an ever-changing landscape of content and platforms. The main dialogue of the past few weeks in the industry has centered around the need to break down the walls between traditional TV and digital video, which is absolutely critical, and a key element to this deal," says Mike Rosen, president of activation at Starcom USA. "However, we know there are more, equally important walls that need to be torn down, including the ones between multicultural and general market, as well as one between national and local. This groundbreaking partnership with Univision Communications knocks down all those walls, including the shift of some traditionally 'general market' English language media investments to Univision."

"As English-language networks traditionally lead the pack in writing deals with major advertisers, Tapestry recognizes the importance of creating meaningful human experiences with all key audiences, including Latinos," says Danielle Gonzales, EVP/managing director at Tapestry. "With progressive and total market deals like this, Univision is poised to be real competition to English broadcasters."

"This deal emphasizes that the shift happening in the marketplace is real - one that mirrors the changing demographics of this country and the new American reality the Hispanic boom is driving," said David Lawenda, president of Advertising Sales and Marketing, Univision Communications Inc. "Starcom USA and Tapestry recognize that Univision provides an effective solution to balance their clients' media plans and deliver all target consumers in today's multicultural and bilingual nation. Univision delivers extraordinary levels of engagement with a young, tech-savvy audience and marketers are actively re-balancing their media plans to tap into the growth that only Univision offers."

The Univision Network continues to rank as one of the top five networks in the U.S. and out-delivering one or more of the top English-language networks (NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX) on nearly every single night among Adults 18-34 in the current 2011/2012 season. In fact, during the first quarter of 2012 the Univision Network drew a larger audience than NBC on four out of every five nights in the key Adult 18-34 demographic and on more than half of nights among Adults 18-49. TeleFutura remains a fierce competitor for the #2 Spanish-language network position, and Galavision, which has been at the top of Spanish-language cable for eight seasons, continues to expand its impressive leadership margins in key dayparts and demographics. Univision, TeleFutura and Galavision together have 73 percent market share among the Adult 18-49 Spanish-language TV audience in primetime. Univision's broadcast and cable networks, as well as its large group of local television and radio stations and growing range of interactive media options, which engage viewers more often and for longer periods of time than our competitors, deliver unparalleled engagement of U.S. Hispanics.

"This total market perspective is not only leading the general trajectory of Upfronts but it also clearly aligns with the general direction of Starcom as we move forward," says Lisa Donohue, CEO of Starcom USA. "Our human experience approach looks at more than just language or platform; it looks at the whole person and their experiences with our clients' brands. It's deals like these that will help enhance our Forefront strategy."

About Starcom USA
Starcom is a world-renowned media agency that simplifies human understanding to deliver meaningful brand experiences. Starcom does this by creating the Space for Ideas, in peoples' minds and in the world, via a unique approach that gives the agency an unparalleled advantage. With over 1,200 employees and an estimated $8.5 billion in billings in the U.S., Starcom helps get the right consumers' attention and delivers brand-building results for many of the world's leading companies. Starcom is part of Publicis Groupe the world's third-largest communications group, the world's second-largest media counsel and buying group, and a global leader in digital and health care communications. With around-the-world activities spanning more than 104 countries on five continents, the Groupe employs as many as 44,000 professionals. With sister agencies MediaVest, ZenithOptimedia, Denuo, Digitas and Razorfish, Starcom is a member of Publicis Groupe's VivaKi, a global digital knowledge and resource center that leverages the combined scale of the autonomous operations of its members to develop new services, new tools and new partnerships.

About Tapestry
As the first and largest multicultural contact agency in the U.S., Tapestry provides integrated media solutions with experts specializing in Hispanic, African-American, Asian and emerging market consumers. With its team of richly diverse contact experts, Tapestry ignites a new rhythm in marketing to help clients grow brands across a wide variety of categories. Our experience spans both traditional media and emerging contact platforms including direct response, internet protocol and entertainment. Tapestry is the multicultural division of Starcom MediaVest Group, a subsidiary of Paris-based Publicis Groupe.

About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching 96% of U.S. Hispanic households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching 88% of U.S. Hispanic households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a new 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, and a suite of six cable offerings - De Pelicula, De Pelicula Clasico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Clasico TV; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company's platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico; Univision Interactive Media, a network of national and local online and mobile sites including Univision.com, which continues to be the #1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Movil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.univision.net .

SOURCE: Univision Communications

FOX Deportes Airs UFC: Diaz vs. Miller LIVE on Saturday May 5th

WHAT: FOX Deportes is proud to bring mixed martial arts aficionados two world class lightweight contenders, Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller on UFC on FOX 3 this Saturday, May 5th. The night will kick-off with the preliminaries and continue with the main event.

WHEN: SATURDAY, May 5th

Preliminaries at 7:00pm (EST)

DIAZ vs. MILLER FIGHT at 8:00pm (EST)

WHERE: LIVE on FOX Deportes

WHAT ELSE:

· Nathan Diaz is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist who won the Ultimate Fighter Season 5 title as well as amassed victories in Strikeforce and World Extreme Cage fighting.

· James Miller is an American mixed martial artist who has won the Cage Fury Fighting Championships Lightweight Championship and the Reality Fighting Featherweight Championship.

About FOX Deportes
Reaching more than 18 million cable and satellite households in the country, of which over 6 million are U.S. Hispanic, FOX Deportes is the leader in Spanish-language sports media. FOX Deportes features premier soccer programming with exclusive coverage of UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League, Copa Santander Libertadores, Italian Serie A, Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana; coverage of the Major League Baseball regular season, All-Star Game, National League Championship Series and World Series; Golden Boy Promotions Boxing and UFC®. Boasting more than 2,100 hours of live and exclusive programming, a robust digital experience brimming with engaging editorial, live scoring and exclusive video highlights, FOX Deportes is the first name in the U.S. Hispanic sports space. For more information, visit FOX Deportes online at Foxdeportes.com.

SOURCE: FOX Deportes

Upfront Forecasts: Cable Surpasses Broadcast

May 01, 2012 | by Wayne Friedman

More optimistic than other recent media analysts' estimations, Anthony DiClemente of Barclays Capital expects upfront revenue for the major four broadcast and cable networks to climb 4.3% and 6.3%, respectively.

Much like other estimates, DiClemente expects cable to be higher than broadcast overall -- getting to $9.88 billion and the broadcast networks $9.5 billion. A recent estimate from Morgan Stanley said broadcast networks could gain 1% to $9.2 billion, and 4.3% to $9.7 billion for cable. There are some 60-plus advertising-supported cable networks.

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